Rotary storages



Dec. 5, 1961 D. DLoUHY 3,011,659

ROTARY sToRAGEs Filed June 2, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheetl 1 l: -E a Bzw r9 2 @Yl -35 2 5 La 9 .f i 0 1 i i2 5; 150

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Dec. 5, 1961 D. DLOUHY 3,011,659

ROTARY STORAGES Filed June 2, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l- IgJZ O Gf.

O O Jig' 0 Dec. 5, 1961 D. DLoUHY 3,011,659

ROTARY STORAGES 'Filed June 2, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 EJHQZ. 9,8 26P19-21- l i l l l l l l l l l l I l 1 United States Patent O M 3,011,659ROTARY STORAGES Dominik Dlouhy, 5615 Beaucourt, Apt. 16, Montreal,Quebec, Canada Filed June 2, 1955, Ser. No. 512,309 18 Claims. (Cl.214-16.!)

This invention relates to a new structure of mechanical storages forcars or other goods, new systems of elevators and new devices andcombinations.

The general objects of the invention are: First, to help overcome theparking ditiiculties for cars and the lack of storage space for othergoods; Second, to build storages providing the best possible utilizationof space, low operating costs and fast storage processes.

It is common to build storages with iloors and ramps or lifts for carsand other goods and it is not a new idea to store the goods on endlessbelts. The conventional systems of storages are uneconomical because, onthe average, half of the space available is lost lfor floors, ramps orlifts and, in the case of garages, between cars. They are, moreover,inetiicient as parking garages because they cannot handle a sufficientlylarge number of cars simultaneously.

As far as I know, the storages with endless belts found little, if any,application as parking garages, because the patented structures anddevices would have not made possible their economical utilization. Toomuch space was Wasted between the cages and the structures madeimpossible the proper exploitation of the above and space below groundlevel and the full depth of the lot. The parking garages would havebeen, moreover, unsatisfactory and inefficient in operation because theywould not have been capable of handling simultaneously a satisfactorynumber ot cars, they had no safety devices, no counterweights, nosuitable space and facilities for washing and other services, theyprovided no possibility of removing cars from units with damagedmachinery and the units could not be operated in both directions. It isprobably due to these shortcomings that this very good idea remainedwithout utilization.

I have found that these disadvantages may be overcome by a new structureof storages and elevators, as well as by a large number of new devicesand their appropriate combination with the devices known.

The capacity for the simultaneous handling of cars is dependent on thenumber of entrances and exits, rows of units loading levels, the numberof elevators and their efficiency. The best solution would be to haveparking garages consisting of elevators used for parking of cars,grouped according to the size and shape of the lots side by side and inseveral rows behind each other, utilizing the whole space above andbelow street level with entrances and exits at several loading levelsalong the whole fronts. On sites where land is too valuable, the garagescan be built as integral part of other buildings so that the streetfronts could be utilized lfor other purposes. Any new large citybuilding can have its own parking garage, using for it only a few square:feet of the least valuable land.

The roofs of the larger storages can be used either for parking purposesor as landing space for helicopters.

The trafiic diiiiculties of modern cities can be overcome not only bythe erection of suitable parking garages, but also by providing themwith service station facilities; motorists would not lose time and addto traic by driving to the service station.

I submit herewith descriptions of storages which are, in my opinion,superior to those currently in use or patented.

3,011,659 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 ICC In drawings which illustrate theembodiments 0f the invention:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the rotary storage and elevators,

FIGURE 2 is the side view of same,

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the horseshoe wtih suppotring and safetydevices and of the self-aligning device,

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the drive mechanism of units operatedclockwise only, and guiding arches,

FIGURE 5 is a front view of the cage for the rotary Storage,

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the cage for rotary storages two bars,

FIGURE 7 is a side view of these cages,

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary detail of the friction equipment for the cage,

FGURE-S 9-11 are the different types of the brackets,

FIGURE l2 is the fragmentary view of the wire rope attachments,

FIGURE 13 is a side view of a conveyor belt,

FIGURES 14 and l5 are the front views of anti slipping mechanism,

FIGURE 16 is a front view of the size-control device,

FIGURE 17 is a diagrammatical view of the rotary dial,

FIGURE 18 is a front view of the safety bolts mechamsm,

FIGURE 19 is a side View of this mechanism,

FIGURE 20 is a front view of the driving mechanism for units operated inboth directions.

FIGURE 21 shows the driving mechanism for the utilization of the kineticenergy of the moving load in adjoining units. v

FIGURE 22 is a liront view of modied forms of the construction of thecounter-weight, guiding arches and pusher chains.

FIGURE 23 is a side view of the rotary dial.

The rotary storage illustrated comprises twelve units, four side by sidein three rows. Each unit will .accommodate twenty two cars or dollieswith other goods. Twenty -four cars can be parked almost simultaneouslyand an uninterrupted ow can be maintained. .In most cases cars can beready for delivery at the street level in a matter of seconds. The unitscan be built for as few as ten cars or as many as three hundred, onground space of only approximately 350 square feet. Almost any requirednumber of units can be grouped together.

The structure of the storage makes possible a very good utilization ofspace by the application of the following ideas and devices:

First, the main belts 1 are located beside the entrances and exits or"the cages and equipped with long brackets, thus allowing their loading,unloading and thoroughfare at any level except the top turn, two or morechains or wire ropes in a belt may be used;

Second, the brackets 2 as sh-own in FIGS. 1, 4, 9-11, 20 and 22 makepossible not only the said placement of the main belts, ibut also thesuspension of the cages closely together;

Third, in high units a plurality of supporting belts, see FIGS. l-4 and20-22, provided with ratchet attachments 4, located on both sides of thecages, synchronized with the main belts, carry the main load in thevertical lines, keep the cages stable during loading and unloading,increase considerably the measure of the safety and facilitate thereplacement of all the belts and wheels. In' middie sized units fourbelts 5 located in the corners of the cages and connected withsupporting bars 6 along the lateral axis of the cages would be adequate,see FIG. 3;

Fourth, the pusher chain 7 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 22 synchronizedwith the main belts, carries the main load in the turns;

Fifth, two or more guiding arches 8, see FIGS. 1, 4, 20 and 22 preventthe rocking and pitching of the cages in the turns;

Sixth, the horseshoe structure 9 as shown in FIGS. 3 and l and 2 permitsthe cages to get over the top although small wheels are used;

Seventh, the structure, size and shape of the cage 10 as shown in FIGS.1 7, 20 and 22 provided -with a plurality of wheels in two or more rows,enable good economy of space and grouping of units in several rows;

v Eighth, anti-slipping mechanism, see FIGS. 14 and l5, prevents theslippage of the wire ropes if these are used.

The safety andreticiency of the storage may be increased by thefollowing additional devices:

First, safety devices as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 may be used if desiredby the authorities or by the proprietors, although the large number ofchains used and the closely together suspended cages provide suicientsafety;-

Second, automatically levelling bottom axis and oors as shown in FIGS. 1and 3 prevent operating troubles and make possible the construction ofsky-scraper storages;

Third, the main driving power is in small units the motor, in largeunits the counterweight 12 as shown in FIGS. 4, 2O and 22 pulled upwardsby the full cages moving downwards or by an electric motor 13 oremergency diesel motor or winch. Using of counterweights affords cheaperand smoother operation and facilitates the motion of belts in eitherdirection; Fourth, the rotary dial, see FIGS. 17 and 23, indicating theposition of the cages and exercising some of the impulses, may becombined in large storages with either number indicators or thepush-button system managed by. the Votce sta.

The storages can include further the following facilities: Entrances/exits along the whole street vfront equipped with powered brushes forcleaning the bottom of cars; staircases and endless-belt elevators orladders `for the staff; facilities for washing, lubrication, minorrepairs, etc; on the roof of larger storages the landing space forhelicopters or additional parking space for cars using some of the unitsas elevators.

Some of the units in the same line may be adapted for out-size cars.

The rotary elevators illustrated in FIGS. l, 2, are of two differenttypes, the narrow type and the rectangular type as discussed under thecombined storage. Both types comprise substantially the same machineryas the rotary storage and can have as many cages as required; if capitalcosts have to be kept low, only a few cages may be used. The cars ordollies are moved by conveyors into the adjoining storage space andreceiving and delivery sections. The rectangular type diiers from thenarrow type in the following points: First, the cages or dollies arecarried either on rails suspended on the brackets and can be pushedsidewise on the rails, or the cages stay suspended on the brackets andthe cars are moved in `or out sidewise by conveyors; Second, theelevators may be located not only one behind another but also one aboveanother, so that the cars intended for washing or other services couldbe stored separately in the lower part, which will be provided withdraw-ramps; Third, the cages can be grouped along the street entrancesquite close together so that, if two elevators one above another areused, nearly three times as many cars could be received simultaneouslyas in the narrow type of elevators.

In comparison with the presently used systems of elevators both types ofrotary elevators have the following advantages: First, they may be usedas storages between rush hours; Second, the cages in the elevators maybe suspended either at the same distances from each other as the oors inthe storage or building, or as close as is convenient; Third, the cages`can be loaded or unloaded simultaneously on all floors; Fourth, theweight of the loads moving down is utilized as a counterweight; Fifth,

the capacity of handling cars is many times greater than that of theconventional systems of elevators; Sixth, people can get in and oir"their cars at their office doors.

The narrow elevators may be suspended and movable sidewise, can receive6 cars simultaneously if in addition to the street level entrance twomore loading levels are used, and make possible the utilization of thewhole depth of the lots.

Both types Ycan be provided'with self-aligning device as shown in FIGS.l and 2 and with conveyors as shown in FIG. 13.

The structural framework 5G as shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3 consists of twopairs of inside columns and of any required number of outside columns.The location and the `shape of the outside columns may be arranged insuch a way that no additional space will be occupied by the supportingbelts and by the columns of adjoining units. The columns at the top ofthe units are reinforced by transverse girders S1. For small storages orsingle units, a transferable pipe/trivet structure would be veryadvantageous because it would enable a better utilization of parkinglots in cities and of the space of service stations.

The horseshoe structure illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 comprises two pairs offrames 9 secured to the transverse girders 51 and reinforced bycrossbars 19 for supporting the machinery of the unit. The higheroutside frames are joined firmly together on top as well as on thebottom and support with the lower inside frames the pillow blocks inwhich both ends of the short shafts of the main belts 1 and of thepusher chains 7, further one end ofthe shafts of the supporting beltsand of the Wheels 3S of the counterweight are inbedded. The guidingarches 8 and some other equipment are also mounted to the horseshoeframes.

The horseshoe Structure makes possible the passing of cages over theto-p wheels although both ends of all the shafts are supported yandsmall sprockets or pulleys are used, thus enabling much betterutilization of space.

The main belts 1 consist of a pair of spaced endless belts, eachcomprising one or more members passing over the wheels 34, as shown inFIGS. l, 2, 3, 4, 14, 15, 20 and 22, and equipped with long brackets 2.

The bracket 2 illustrated (FIGS. 9-1l) may be adapted according to theload to be carried and to the type of belts used. The bracket comprisesone or two pairs of strips 41 which may be only a few inches longer thanthe half-Width of the cage. Their width and the thickness depends on theload to be carried. The strips, reinforced by crossbars 42 and arches 45and supported by supporting strips 46, are provided on one end withholes and pivoted or iixed to the chain. The other ends of the stripsare either pivoted, bolted or Welded together and provided withroller-bearings if desired, and with a round opening 43 for the bar ofthe cage, or with oblong openings 44 with notches on opposite sides (seeFIG. 1l), or with two longer oblong openings provided with four sheaves54, one pair of sheaves 54 carrying the bar 15 of the cage and the otherpair carrying the supporting bars 33 for the pusher chains. Theseopenings make possible the decrease'of the acceleration of the speed inthe turns.

For wire ropes a pair of strips 47, bolted to a channel attachment 88bent around the rope and yfastened to it by a wedged insertion 84, nutsand bolts or pivoted 4between two rings 48 with ball-bearings 49 (FIGS.l0 and l2), are used.

In rotary storages and elevators supporting devices as shown in FIGS.1-4 and 20-22 are used, so lthat the brackets do not carry very much ofthe load.

The brackets make possible: first, a very good utilization of spacebecause the cages may be suspended close one above another; second, verygood eliciency, since the cars can be handled very fast in anuninterrupted stream and loaded at several levels; third, a great meas.

ure of safety because a plurality of chains or ropes may be used;fourth, cars can be transferred from a unit out of operation to aworking one in the same line; fifth, very eflicient elevators bec-ausethe cars can be loaded and unloaded or transferred simultaneously at alllevels.

The supporting mechanism for rotary storages and elevators, as shown inFIGS. 1-4, 14, l5 and 20-22, consists of a combination of some of thefollowing de- Vices:

First, a plurality of supporting belts located along the sides of thecages and provided with attachments 4 at distances corresponding withthe channels or notches 52 on the sides of the cages (see FIGS. l, 2, 4,14, 15 and 20-22). Two or more attachments may be joined together ifconsiderable lengthening of the belts is probable. The pulleys orsprockets 53 of the inside supporting belts 3 in the middle of the unitare on a common shaft with the drive wheels 36, the shafts of the wheels253 of the outside supporting belts 203 are synchronized with them by agearing chain 37, 137 and 237. The supporting belts have to carry themain weight of the loads in the straight lines and keep the cages stableduring loading and unloading, and to prevent them from falling in caseof a breakage of some belts. Moreover, they make possible a many timesfaster and cheaper exchange of the belts and do not occupy Iany space,being located inside or between the columns. The more cars to be parkedor other goods stored in the unit, the more of the said belts will beused;

Second ,the supporting attachments 4, for engaging notches or channels52 fixed to the cages, as shown in FIGS. 4, 14, 15 and 20-22, consist ofa four edged or round channel of a trapezoid shape, or of a pair ofplates xed or pivoted to the chain or to the Wire rope and provided withteeth, or of a chain link adapted for this purpose. For the inside usethe channels are provided with teeth on the inner open side. Theattachments with the teeth are used for either side of supporting beltsand pusher chains;

Third, supporting 4bars 6 (see FIG. 3) instead of the said supportingbelts may be used in small units. The bars are tixed to each pair ofendless belts 5 passing over wheels 134 and support the bars of thecages. The wheels of these belts are located perpendicularly to thedrive wheels 36 and are synchronized with them by bevel gears. The barsmay be short if the full width of the entrances of the cages does nothave to be kept free;

Fourth, the pusher chain mechanism 7 illustrated in FIGS. l, 3, 4, 14,l5 and 22, comprises one or more endless chains provided With ratchetattachments or double hooks or ribbed steel plates forV engaging therings 140 of the cages and the bars 33 of the brackets, and supported bydeiecting arches 129 (see FIG. 3), provided with ilanges and rollers ifchains Without rollers are used, and passing over a plurality ofsprockets 131 and of idlers 132. The pusher chains are used in the turnsto support or carry in combination with guiding arches the main load ofsingle cages or dollies;

Fifth: the guiding arches 8 illustrated in FIGS. l, 4,V

15, 20, 22, and 55 comprise two or more pairs of arched tracks accordingto the number of wheels on the cage or dolly, located one behind anotheror one above another in the turns of the rotary storages.

The arches on the top of the vertical units are hanged outside andprovided with extended rounded ends inside and vice versa at -thebottom, and are provided with auxiliary tracks preventing the rockingand pitching of the cages. The arches at the bottom are larger thanthose on the top of the unit. If the arches are located one behindanother, the inside arch has to be interrupted', if they are one aboveanother, the cages are provided with one wheel on each end of the barsof the cage. The guiding arches can be combined with the pusher chainsto shift in turns the single cages, suspended in the openings 44 of thebrackets, towards and from the wheels 34 and 53.

The more the speed of the cages is to be decreased, thel nearer to thesaid Wheels the tracks of the guiding arches and the pusher chains arelocated. The combination of the main belts with supporting belts andother supporting devices is the most important feature of rotarystorages and elevators. The space can be utilized much better than inthe systems of circuitous storages known since the units may be higherup to ten times and the units of the same capacity require less groundspace because of the new placement of the belts: Moreover, the capacityis considerably increased by the elimination of the heavy stress on mainbelts, and, in case of a breakage of some belts, all the belts as wellas the cages are prevented from falling.

The anti-slipping mechanism for the Wire rope in the turns of the rotarystorages and elevators, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, comprises one or acombination of some of the following devices:

First, the pusher chains 7 as described above provided with ribbedsurface, each chain passing over sprockets 159 keyed to each pair ofadjacent shafts between the pulleys and supported between these shaftsby channels S9. The said sprockets are of a little larger diameter thanpulleys 34, 53, 253 and 353. The said chains support the bars or stripswith ribbed surface fixed to each pair of wire ropes. The larger theload to be carried by a pair of wire ropes, the wider the chains;

Second, guiding arches 8 as described above, provided either with a fineribbed surface or with small teeth outside at the top and inside at thebottom. The wheels of the cage are in this case fixed to the bar of thecage and provided with either the said ne ribbed surface or with smallnotches or with asbestos driving plates or other suitable material;

Third, supporting wheels 58 provided with ribbed surface and mountedbeside and/or between the pulleys to support the bars of the cages orbrackets and supporting bars, provided with rings or wheels as saidabove. The supporting ybars are employed if two or more wire ropes inthe belt are used. Additional wheels are keyed to the shafts ofsupporting belts 3 `and 263 between pulleys 53 and 253 for supportingadditional bars or strips. The larger the load to be carried, the Widerthe wheels of this set. The application of the said bars or strips alsoprevents the broken single ropes from falling. This mechanism willcompensate for any difference in the load of the two vertical lines.

The driving mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 20-22 comprises twoor more electric motors 13 equipped with backstops and speedgears, foractuating, by means of chain gears, the drive wheel 36 and the wheels 3Sof the counterweight mechanism. This mechanism consists of the saidwheels 38 provided with brakes 28 or 42, of .the weight 12 whichactuates the drive wheel 36 by means of endless chains 49 passing overthe said wheels 38, freewheels 41 mounted to the drive shafts, andidlers 39. The wheels ofthe main belts 1 are synchronized with the drivewheel 36 by chain gears 137 (see FIG. 3), the wheels of the outsidesupporting belts 203 by chain gears 37 or 237. The wheels of the insidesupporting belts 3 are keyed .to the shaft of the drive wheel 36. Thewheels 131 of the pusher chain mechanism 7 which carries the load ofsingle cages in both turns, lare actuated, according to the diameter ofthe wheels of main belts, directly by cages moving downwards by means ofthe counterweight and hydraulic cylinder 65 (FIG. 22) or indirectly bythe wheels 34 of main belts by means of chain gears 133 (FIG. 3) or ofspur gears (FIG. 4). Two lefthand freewheels and one wheel of thecounterweight will be added, if the unit will be operated in bothdirectionsv (FIG. 20). The freewheels are 'actuated either by clutchesor by powerfull brakes. In high units two counterweights and four motorswill be used, two of the motors actuating the drive wheel 136 providedwith freewheel 241 of the outside supporting chains (FIG. 21). Thecounterweight is 'actuated mainly by the down-moving loads, the eXtrapower required being supplied automatically by the electric motors, inemergency by a diesel motor or Winch. In very high units thecounterweights and the weight of the down-moving loads of the adjoiningunits may be utilized (FIG. 21). All the bearings and devices of thedriving mechanism are on the top of the unit supported by transverse`girders 51 of the structural framework 50 and by frames 9 and crossbars19 of the horseshoe structure. The counterweight mechanism is theprimary driving and braking force making a faster, safer, cheaper andsmoother operation possible by utilizing the kinetic energy of themoving load. Referring now to thel operation of the unit, an examinationof FIGS. 4 and 20-22 will disclose the nature of its action and itsusefulness especially for parking garages. In the following is describedthe operation ofa parking unit for 50 cars, designed for operation inboth directions and shown in FIG. 20. This unit has one loading level atstreet level and may utilize for parking as much space below the streetlevel as required.

The motive power will be supplied'primarily bythe kinetic energy of themoving load and secondarily by two electric motors. The main object ofthe motors is to lift the counterweight 12.; the object of thecounterweight mechanism is to reduce the power requirements, thestarting stress on belts, brackets and motors and the stress on thebrakes, and to speed up the operation of the unit. The parking will bearranged in such a way that the counterweight can, without assistance ofthe motors, balance the load.

After the first two cars are received and secured in their cages, therighthand freewheels 41, mounted on the shaft of the drive wheel 36, areconnected and the brake of -the righthand wheel 38 of the counterweightmechanism and the general brake are released. Thus the drive wheel isactuated by the weight 12 by means of endless chains 40 passing over theWheels of the counterewight mechanism and over the freewheels, and thecages move clockwise for about 30 feet, according to the impulses of therotary dial. To stop the movement of the cages, the lefthand freewheelis connected and simultaneously the brake of the lefthand wheel 38 isreleased, then the righthand freewheel is disconnected and the brake ofthe righthand wheel 38 and the general brake are applied. If the weight12 is not pulled up -to the top by the described action, the lefthandmotor will be applied automatically. Parking of cars continues in thisorder until all cages are loaded, thus the unit being fully loaded afterabout five operating cycles.

If cars are unparked during the daytime, the empty cages are left at theloading level to be ready for receiving other cars. Y The other emptycages are called to the loading level as needed, but in such an orderthat the load remains balanced as much as possible. For this operation,only in a few cases the motor would be applied because by the alternatetrafhc of cars in `and out of the cages, the counterweight would bemostly lifted by the down moving load.

For unparkin-g, the cages will be moved the shorter way andexceptionally only the easier way, according to the position of thecounterweight which is lowered or left at the bottom in order to operateas a brake when pulled up. By the correct operation with counterweights,the unparking could be completed without any use of motors.

The motors will have a capacity only to lift the counterweight at avelocity of about 50 feet per minute.l 'Ihe operation of the unit willbe facilitated by using a rotary dial mechanism described in thefollowing part of this specification.

Parking of cars in the described unit Will take about 7 minutes, theunparking probably 13 minutes. A single movement will take, on theaverage, a few seconds only.

In high units, more loading levels will be installed. Each added loadinglevel enables a simultaneous loading of two more cars at the same time.

The higher the unit, the heavier the counterweigh-ts and the moreefficient motors will be used for increasing the velocity of cages and afaster lifting of counterweights.

The nature of the operation of smaller units provided with one freewheelonly, or of large units utilizing the kinetic energy of adjoining units,will be in principle similar to the operation described above.

The usefulness of a combined drive, especially in units designed forparking garages, is evident from the following:

(1) The safety is considerably increased because the strain on motors,belts and brackets caused by too many starts in a day is much smaller byusing counterweight mechanism instead of electric motors. The operationof a unit consists of at least as many movements as there are carsparked which means or more starts a day in a unit for 100 cars.

(2) The operating costs are considerably lower than in the case whereelectric motors only are used because the counterweight mechanism is themain driving and braking power and the weight of down moving loads isutilized for lifting the counterweight.

(3) The operation with counterweight mechanism is much faster becausethe speed of cages is'increased and reduced quicker. To stop themovement of cages, the momentum for lifting the counterweightvwill beused.

(4) Without the counterweight mechanism, it would not be possible toremove the cars in case of a current or motor failure. Should such afailure occur, the counterweight can be lifted by an emergency set inlarge units or by a winch in small units.

(5) The application of a counterweight mechanism makes possible thebuilding of units of any required height and thus the most favourableutilization of space.

The self-aligning device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 comprises fourpairs of heavy vertical beams 60 mounted to the structural framework `orforming a part of it to which are mounted four pairs of heavy springs inmiddle sized units or four pairs of automatic double acting hydrauliccylinders 65 in high units, between which are located the ends of aheavy pair of heavy I irons 66 to which are fixed two pairs of framesconsisting of several horizontal beams 61 and several vertical beams 64.These frames are suspended from the transverse girders 51 of thestructural framework 50 by several cables 67 to which the connectingequipment on all floors is pivoted. The cables have the same stretchingcapacity as the belts of the unit. To these frames are mounted Pillowblocks for the wheels 34 of main belts 1 and of pusher chains V7, theguiding arches and the general brake, so that the frames slide up anddown according to the changes in the length of main belts. The pillowblocks of the supporting belts and bars are provided with grooves andlocated between adjustable vertical T beams 138 so that'the position ofeach Ishaft is `aligned indepedently.

The object of this device is to adjust automatically the position of thebottom shafts, guiding arches, pusher chains, brakes and of the floorsand connecting equipment to the length of the belts; to keep these beltssutilciently tense' and to ensure lthat the largest part of he Weight ofthe bottom shafts and other Vequipment is carried by the above saidheavy I irons by means of springs or hydraulic cylinders and thus toutilize fully all the available space above the street level for parkingor storing purposes.

The described device may be also used on the top of the unit andprovided with supplementary hydraulic cylinders, connected by pipesprovided with pressure valves, with the hydraulic cylinders on thebottom of the unit.

The cage 10 for a car or for a dolly with other goods, illustrated inFIGS. 5-7, comprises a floor equipped with troughs 76 and supported by abar and suspended by a plurality of strips 77 pendulum-like on a secondbar 15 protected by one or more pipes 84 and suspended in the openingsof the brackets 2. Both bars are equipped with a plurality of wheels 78for engaging with guiding arches and rings 140 engageable with pusherchains. The cage may further be equipped with an electrical slidingcontact.

The troughs or the iioor are reinforced by one or more heavy beams orbars and crossbars, and rounded outwardly to facilitate the entering ofcars, and are provided either with conveyor belts or with fasteningmechanism as shown in FIGS. 7 and 13 or with a plurality'of strips ofribbed rubber fixed crosswise to prevent the shifting of the car, and ifdesired, with rubber grooves to drain water to gutters. Instead of thesegrooves and gutters, a tioor of Irving grating will be used in countriesWith heavy snowfalls. This floor will be supported by a pair of anglesor T-irons provided with a lia-t tank equipped with automatic draindischarges. n

The strips 77 are reinforced according to the load to be carried and areprovided either with channels or notches 52 corresponding with theattachments of the supporting chains, or with small rings 149, and ifdesired, with roller bearings and with raisable roof with smallchannels. The strips can consist of several parts assembled on the site.The said roller bearings would substitute the pipe 84 which can beprovided with friction equipment as shown in FIG. 8.

The shafts for additional wheels 78 and rings 140 are fixed, accordingto the location of guiding arches and pusher chains, to the top, sidesor lioor of the cage.

The structure, size and shape of the cages are of considerableimportance for the economy of space. The cages described have no wallsor doors so that the car or dolly with other goods could be driventhrough to another unit in -the same line and the driver car get out orinto his car directly to or from the passage. The cages can be thereforeonly a few inches larger than the largest cars to be stored in them andrelatively very light because they are supported by supporting belts attheir bottom. yFor out-size cars, units with special cages could bebuilt.

The friction equipment illustrated in FIG. 8 comprises two or more pairsof rings 83 with a rough surface, fixed to the end of the pipes 84 onwhich the cage is suspended, and to the bars on which the pipes areslipped. are not used, the second pair of rings is iixed either to thestrips of the cage or to the attachments. Some of the rings are providedwith thread for regulation and, if smoother resistance is desirable,with double rings, one of which is provided with a plurality of pegs 85,the other with corresponding openings and springs 86 in between. Therings prevent undue rocking of the cages.

The conveyor belt as illustrated in FIG. 13 comprises either a pair ofendless belts 110 mounted in the troughs or on the door of the cage ordolly and provided with a plurality of wheel chocks 113, or mountedwithout wheel chocks crosswise on the floor, a plurality of rollers 111and either an electrical slider contact and an electrical motor orratchet rollers y105V conveying the power from adjoining belt. The wheelchocks consist of rubber, plastic or steel bars, or of a plurality ofribbed rubber strips fixed crosswise to the belts at appropriatedistances or slidable in sashes, fixed to the belts and provided withsprings. The conveyors in the cages or on dollies enable to push thecars either forwards or sidewards, and are combined with other conveyorslocated in the parking stalls and between the entrance and the exit.

The fastening device as shown in FIG. 7 comprises a pair of ratchetsegments, two levers with catches 115 fixed to the shafts pivoted to thebottom of the troughs and provided between them with counterbalancedbent bars or reinforced strips, which are provided with a plurality ofhooks 117. Instead of the -said mechanism a double-rack movement may beused, provided with ratchet bars. Instead of lever, an electric motor orworm-gear may be used.

The safety equipment is superfluous in View of the large number ofchains or ropes used. If city authorities or the owner of the garagewould desire further safety measures, a combination of some of thefollowing devices, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 16, 18 and 19, could beapplied:

First, the safety bolts: 'I'he main belts moving in flanged channels orin channels 89 to which two angles or small channels 90 are fixed. Thechannels are provided with a sufficient number of openings and pivotsfor strong bolts 91, provided with grooves below thefpivots, and withrubber pads on their inside bends. The other ends are fixed to a Wirerope 92, suspended from a bar 97v pivoted at'the top of the unit to thetransverse girders of the structural framework and fixed at the bottomto a ratchet segment 93, actuated by a worm-gear 94, controlled by thegeneral switch. If the unit is out of operation, t-he segment ishorizontal and all the bol-ts are Vin a slanting position, thus'blocking all the cages'and pr venting them from falling. If the beltsare in motion, the segment is in a slanting position and half of thebolts are in a nearly vertical position, the other half in a nearlyhorizontal position, so that only half of the cages would be preventedfrom falling;

Second, the magnetic control, shown in FIG. 19. To

' prevent the second half of the cages from falling, a second set ofbolts are hinged in the above said channels,

with their outside ends pivoted to a pair of wire ropesV 92 (fixed to apair of wire ropes 92) lixed to a pair of levers 139. The levers arepivoted to the said channels and provided with sliding weights 96. Beloweach lever is mounted a solenoid 95 to the channel at a suitabledistance, keeping the lever and all bolts in a nearly vertical position.Tlie solenoid is connected to the circuit by an electric double wirefixed to all brackets on which cages are suspended and rolled up on areel located in the centre of the unit. 1n case one of the main belts orbrackets breaks, the said double wire snaps, the circuit is interrupted,both weights loosen and all bolts of the second set move in a slantingposition, thus preventing the cages and main belts from falling.

Third, safety bars 97, as illustrated in FIG. 3, are pivoted tocrossbars 13) between the two arms of the vertical unit and connected bya wire rope 98 passing over idlers and a pulley 99 at the top, actuatedby an electric motor which is controlled by the general switch. In someunits the half size bars are pivoted lby one end to the structure and bythe other to the said wire rope provided with a counterweight. As manysafety bars can be used as there are cages on the vertical line. Thebars, if in a slanting position, are leaning against the inside of thestructure and can be connected with an alarm/ stopping wire which wouldstop the belts if one car became loosened and hit the bar;

Fourth, size measure, as shown in FIG. 16, comprises a frame 100 towhich a plurality of bars 101 of different length are pivoted to formwith their lower end the shape and size of the cage. Along the ends ofthe bars an alarm/stopping Wire 102 is mounted, which stops the conveyorbelt and gives the alarm when one of the bars is moved out of itsvertical position and contacts the wire.

The rotary dial illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 23 comprises a frame 120, afixed dial 130 showing the numbers of the stops 123, and a rotating dial126 provided with a miniature endless belt 122 in the shape of the mainbelt and actuated by it by means of a pinion 125 mounted on the shaft143, and of a chain gear, and rotating in the same rotation cycles. Saidbelt passes over two sprockets 142 keyed on shafts 141 and over saidpinion and carries small pivoted plates with the numbers of the cages140, thus indicating the whereabouts of the desired cage, and

counter-clockwise operation.

provided, if desired, with small pockets or pins for the second half ofthe customers claim checks and with control sticks xed to their extendedpivots. The pivot of said pinion is also extended and provided with aspeedindicator 127 with an extended pin of hand equipped with aplurality of control sticks. Two or more of these endless chains areprovided with freewheels -and with control sticks, at differentdistances on each chain. One chain of each pair controls the clockwise,the other the The auxiliary chains number one and three are equippedwith as many control sticks as there are plates on the rotating dial.The auxiliary chains number two have as many control sticks only as manystops are required in one operating cycle for loading in a more or lessempty unit. The number of these stops depends on the capacity of thecounterweight and on the number of loading levels. The extended pivotsof the plates as well as the extended pin of they hand of the speedindicator 127 are provided with additional control sticks. The dial ofthe speed indicator is equipped with a slider 149 connected with theautomatic switch.

The frame of the rotary dial is provided `at appropriate points withswitches for the motor, for the counterweight and for the brake, whichare actuated by the control sticks. If the cars are to be parked orloaded into a more or less empty unit, the auxiliary chain with thecontrol sticks at desired distances is used in order to keep the load inbalance. The control sticks tixed to the pivots of the plates and thesecond auxiliary chain are applied if certain cages have to be loaded orunloaded, and the control sticks iixed to the pin of the hand of speedindicator are applied automatically the required speed is reached.

Y The electrical control attachedV to the rotary dial is actuated eitherby the motorist, or by the attendant, or by the oice stal. The motoristwill switch on the motor yand/ or the counterweight automatically byshifting aside the said plates covering the push-button in order to gethis claim check. The oce of a large parking garage will be equipped witha duplicate of the rotating dial and of some switches in order to callthe desired cars and to iind out which cages are empty. In smallgarages, the oice will be equipped with pushbuttons for numberindicators.

v The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are dened as follows:

`l. A rotary storage for parking cars on storing other goods, consistingof independent units grouped together according to the ground area andrequirements one behind another and side by side, each unit acting asits own elevator and as elevator for adjacent storage space andcomprising a combination of integrated devices supported by a structuralframework to which at the top transverse girders of the horseshoestructure are mounted for supporting the pillow blocks for wheels ofmain and supporting endless belts, of driving mechanism and pusher chainmechanism combined with guiding arches, located in the upper turn, andthe frames of the selfaligning device suspended by a plurality of cablesfrom the said girders and located in the lower turn for supporting thepillow blocks for `wheels of main belts and of pusher chain mechanismwith guiding arches, and the takeup for wheels of supporting beltsconsisting of two sets synchronized with the third set, the main belts,by chain gears, all the belts passing over the above mentioned wheels,rotating in both directions and supported by channels, the main beltslocated beside the entrances and exits of cages and provided with longbrackets for supporting the bars provided with friction equipment, fromwhich cages provided with fastening devices, notches, wheels and ringsare suspended pendulum-like closely one above another, the insideVsupporting belts located itsy between the cages and main belts and theoutside supporting belts located alongside the cages, the supportingbelts being equipped with ratchet attachments for engaging the saidnotches of cages, and all three sets actuated by above mentioned drivingmechanism consisting of a combination of motors with counterweightmechanisms which are the primary driving and braking force, and assistedin turns by the said pusher chain mechanism, the unit comprising furthera rotary dial mechanism for controlling the operation, a combination ofsafety devices consisting of safety bolts for preventing the broken mainbelts from falling, and of safety bars for holding the cars in movingcages, and of safety measure for preventing oversize'cars from enteringthe storage, and of an anti-slipping mechanism for preventing theslipping of the belts, further conveyor belts for moving vehicles orgoods into and out of adjacent storage space, and finally rotaryelevators for operating the attached storage space.

2. A rotary storage of claim l, wherein the horseshoe structurecomprises two pairs of frames mounted to the top of the structuralframework, each pair consisting of onehigher and one lowerV frame, theoutside higher frames being joined rmly together on their top, and eachpair supporting the pillow blocks in which both ends of two short shaftsfor the main belts are imbedded so that large cages can pass over theupper tum between small wheels, and to these frames being furthermounted pillow blocks for the Wheels of supporting belts, ofcounterweight mechanism, of pusher chain mechanism and of safety bars,`and the guiding arches, and the transferable structural frameworkconsisting of a plurality of pipes joined by steel rods provided intheir middle with rings of softer material and xed together by clampsprovided with insertions and attachments for crossbars, and both ringsand clamps provided with a plurality of openings and studs for keepingthe pipes in the right position.

3. A rotary storage of claim l, wherein the self-aligning device forcompensating automatically for changes in belt lengths is a combinationof a plurality of independent takeups for the shafts of supporting beltsand bars with a common takeup for the shafts of main belts and of pusherchain mechanism, for guiding arches, brakes and other equipment, andconsists of two pairs of double frames consisting of a plurality ofvertical and horizontal beams, the upper horizontal I-beam in each pairbeing extended, to the said frames being mounted pillow blocks of mainbelts and of pusher chain mechanism, the guiding arches, general brakeand some other equipment, further ball-bearing takeup-blocks for thesupporting belts, and the frames being equipped with rollers andsuspended from transverse girders of the horseshoe structure by aplurality of cables which stretch the same way as the main belts and onwhich also the crossbars for safety bars and connecting equipment at allfloors are hinged, and sliding up and down, according to the elongationof main belts, between four pairs of vertical beams fixed to the bottomof the structural framework and provided with two pairs of hydrauliccylinders in large units and of heavy spiral springs in small units forsupporting both ends of the said extended horizontal beams and thuscarrying the larger part of the weight of the shafts, wheels and ofother equipment, preventing undue movements of these shafts and keepingthe connecting equipment in the right position, yet the belts suicientlytight.

4. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein the main belts are locatedbeside the entrances and exists of cages so that a plurality of cagescan be simultaneously loaded and unloaded and vehicles can pass throughthe cages to and from adjacent units and storage space at any levelexcept in turns, and consist of a pair of endless belts, each comprisingone or more` members, according to the load to be carried, supported bychannels and 13 passing over upper and lower wheels, and equipped with aplurality of brackets longer than the half-width of the cage, supportingthe bars from which cages are suspended closely one above another,

5. A rotary storage of claim l, Ywherein the bracket attachments formain belts are longer than the halfwidth of the cage and of a narrowstructure so that a plurality of cages can be simultaneously loaded andunloaded and vehicles can pass through the cages to and from adjacentunits at all levels except in turns, each bracket consisting of aplurality of strips pivoted or fixed to the main belt or to bases iixedto it, according to the type of belts used, supported by a plurality ofsupporting arms and provided in units with main belt wheels of a smallerdiameter than the width of the cage with oblong openings equipped withtwo sets of sheaves, one set supporting the bar of the cage and theother the bar of the bracket, both bars equipped with rings for engaginga pair of pusher chains which force the cage in turns, in a combinedaction with guiding arches, towards and from the wheels of main beltsthus shortening its path of travel and reducing its speed and relievingthese belts and the brackets of strain, in units using for main beltsthe wheels of about the same diameter as the width of the cage the saidoblong openings being provided with notches, and in units with Awheelsof a larger diameter than the width of the cage the said openings beinground.

6. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein the supporting belts consist oftwo sets of endless belts of the same specification as the main belts,synchronized With them by gearing chains and supported by channels fixedto the structural framework, and placed along both sides of cageswithout occupying any additional space, and provided with ratchetattachments for engaging the notches fixed to lboth sides of iioors ofcages for carrying the larger part of the total load of the unit, forfacilitating the replacement of all belts and Wheels and for preventingthe cages from falling in case of a breakage of some belts or brackets,the number and eiiiciency of said belts depending on the load to becarried.

7. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein in small units or in storagesfor lighter goods than cars, instead of supporting belts, supporting barmechanism is applied, comprising a plurality of endless belts of thesame specication as the main belts, passing over upper and lower wheelslocated perpendicularly to the wheels of main belts and actuated by themby bevel gears, and connected by a plurality of bars provided withflexible pads.

8. A rotary storage of claim l, wherein the driving mechanism is acombination of electric motors with counterweight mechanisms which givethe primary driving and braking power using the kinetic energy of movingloads to liftthe counterweights, and comprises electric motors equippedwith speedgears and backstops and provided with chain gears ,for thewheels of counterweight mechanism and for the drive wheel which isprovided with chain gears for the wheels of main and outside supportingbelts, and the counterweight mechanism consisting of above mentionedwheels equipped with brakes, of two endless chains supporting thecounterweight and passing over these wheels and over freewheels mountedon the drive shaft and provided with clutches in large units and withpower brakes in small units, the driving mechanism being in turnsassisted by pusher chain mechanism combined with guiding arches, and invery large storages by two additional counterweight mechanisms forutilizing the kinetic energy of adjoining units, their counterweightsbeing installed between units and each suspended on a pair of endlesschains passing over two pairs of wheels of this mechanism, equipped withbrakse, and over two pairs of 'eewheels mounted on drive wheel shafts ofoutside supporting belts, all these additional wheels being installedabove the driving memhanism of units and actuated by two additionalmotors by means of chain gears, the said drive wheel shafts beingconnected with short shafts of main belts and these short shafts withthe shaft of inside supporting belts by cha-in gears, and the saidfrewheels acting also as connecting members for conveying power fromadjoining units.

9. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein the pusher chain mechanism iscombined with guiding arches for carrying in belt turns the larger partof the load of single cages, and `for shortening their path of traveland reducing their speed in units using small wheels for their mainbelts, and comprises a plurality of sprockets equipped with freewheels,a plurality of endless chains provided with rollers and with ratchetattachments for engaging the rings iixed to the bars and shafts of cagesand to the bars of brackets, and passing over the said sprockets andover deiecting arches, and actuated in units using main belt wheels of asmaller diameter than is the width of cages by a counterweight, and inunits with relatively larger wheels by a motor or by these wheels, thesaid guiding arches comprising a plurality of -arched single or doubletracks for engaging the wheels pivoted to cages, which are interruptedif the wheels pivoted to cages are at the same level, and the saiddeflecting arches consisting of a plurality of double flanged channelsfor supporting the said endless chains and for determining their path.

10. A rotary storage of claim l, wherein the cage for a car or othervehicle comprises a iioor adapted for the intended purpose, in countrieswith heavy snowfalls the fioor consisting of Irving grating equippedwith halftroughs, supported by a pair of angles equipped with notches`for engaging the ratchet attachments of supporting belts, with twoshafts provided with rings for engaging the pusher chains, with wheelsengaging the guiding arches, with a flat tank located below the door andprovided with automatic drain Water dischargers, and with a plurality ofrubber strips or a fastening device for preventing the vehicles fromshifting in moving cages, the latter being replaced in units withattached storage space by conveyor belts, and the floor being suspendedby a plurality of strips consisting of several parts from a bar locatedon sheaves in the openings of brackets attached to main belts, the saidbar being equipped with a plurality of Wheels engaging the guidingarches, with a plurality of rings engaging the pusher chains, and inunits for very fast operation with friction equipment -for preventingthe cages from shifting and rocking on the bar.

1l. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein the friction equipment forpreventing the shifting and undue rocking of cages in units built forvery fast operation comprises a plurality of rings with a rough surface,half of them mounted to the bar froml which the cage is suspended, andthe other half to the pipe in which this bar is slipped, or, where nopipe is used, to attachments fixed to the strips of the cage, some ofthe rings being provided with threads yfor adjustment, and, if neroperation is desirable, double rings with springs in between beingapplied, one ring in each pair provided with a plurality of pegs and theother with corresponding openings.

12. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein a fastening device preventingthe cars in moving cages from shifting comprises a pair ofcounterbalanced bent bars equipped with a plurality of hooks, and eachpair provided with a lever, a catch and a ratchet segment.

13. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt for movingcars or other vehicles into the cages and out of them to adjacentstorage space and vice versa comprises a pair of endless belts equippedwith a plurality of wheel chocks and supported by a plurality of rollersand actuated by a pair of ratchet rollers of the adjoining conveyorbelts, a wheel chock consisting of a strip of suitable material andshape.

14. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein a combination of two sets ofsafety bolts for preventing the backward rotation of main belts andtheir falling if broken comprises a plurality of short bolts providedwith grooves in their middle and equipped with rubber pads on theirinside bends, and hinged in the openings of channels provided with angesor angles and supporting the main belts, the rst set of the bolts havingtheir outside ends Xed to two pairs of wire ropes suspended from twobars pivoted at the top of the unit to the transverse girders of thestructural framework and at its bottom to a pair of ratchet segmentsactuated by worm gears controlled by a general switch, and the outsideends of the second set of bolts being xed to other two pairs of wireropes, each rope xed at the bottom of the Vunit to a lever pivoted toone of said channels and provided with a sliding weight, the lever andthus the bolts attached to said wire ropes being held in a nearlyvertical position by a solenoid mounted to the channel below the leveras long as the electric wire, xed to all `brackets on which cages aresuspended and rolled up on a reel located in the centre of the unit, isnot snapped.

l5. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein the safety bars for holding thecars in moving cages comprise a plurality of bars long as the width ofthe unit, pivoted to crossbars supported by cables by which the framesof self-aligning device are suspended, and equipped with sheaves forsupporting wire ropes of drawbridges, and connected by a wire ropepassing over a plurality of idlers and over a pulley mounted to thehorseshoe structure, the pulley being actuated by an electric motorcontrolled by a progress switch which also controls an alarm wireconnecting all said bars.

16. A rotary storage of claim l, wherein the size measure is a devicefor preventing oversize vehicles from entering the cages, located at theentrance of the storage and consisting of a frame from which a number ofbars of different lengths are `hinged forming by their lower ends an-arch of a shape and size corresponding to the shape and size of a cage,and of an electric alarm wire mounted behind the lower ends of thesebars, which gives the alarm if one of suspended bars is by a vehicle orits antenna moved out of its position towards the wire and contacts it.

17. A rotary storage of claim 1, wherein rotary dial mechanism is anapparatus for indicating the position of cages with desired cars and ofempty cages, and for controlling the operation of the unit, comprising ahame mounted at the main loading level to a pair of crossbars supportedby a pair of cables from which the frames of self-aligning device aresuspended, and sliding in sashes fixed to the channels supporting themain belts, and equipped at respective points with a plurality ofswitches controlling the starting yand stopping progress switches, andwith a fixed dial marked with numbers of stops and provided with arotating dial consisting of a pinion actuated by the main belt, of twosprockets and of 'a miniature endless chain of the same shape as themain belt, moving over said sprockets and pinion in the same rotationcycl, the pinion being equipped with a speed indicator comprising anextended pin with a hand, a control stick and a slider, and theminiature endless chain Ibeing equipped with small pivoted platescorresponding in number to the number of cages in the unit,

marked with numbers of cages and provided with control sticks forcalling single cages, the shafts of said sprockets and pinion being foran additional control, extended and provided with additional sprocketsequipped with freewheels supporting a plurality 0f pairs of auxiliarychains having the same specification as the said miniatureV chain, onechain in each pair controlling the clockwise and the othercounter-clockwise operation of the unit, two pairs of them equipped withthe same number of control sticks as there are plates on the rotatingdial, and one pair provided with only about a fifth of them forcontrolling the parking in more or less empty unit with one loadinglevel, and with accordingly smaller number in units with more loadinglevels, the ofiice of a large parking garage being provided with aduplicate of the rotating dial and with a duplicate of some switches inorder to ca-ll desired cars to loading level and to find out emptycages, and the oiice of small garages with pushbuttons for numberindicators.

18. 1A rotary storage of claim l, wherein the anti-slipping mechanism isa combination of pusher chains f andtof two sets of supporting wheelswith guiding arches for preventing the slipping of wire ropes,comprising a plurality of sprockets mounted to each pair of adjacentshafts between the pulleys, the sprockets having a slightly largerdiameter than pulleys, a plurality of endless chains provided with aribbed surface and supported between said sprockets by channels andpassing over lthese sprockets for supporting a plurality of bars orstrips with a ribbed surface fixed to each pair of adjacent wire ropes,and two sets of supporting wheels with a ribbed surface, the first setconsisting of a plurality of pairs of wheels of a considerably largerdiameter than the pulleys of main belts, one pair of them mounted besideeach pulley for supporting the bar of the bracket or of the cage,according to the size of pulleys, and the second set consisting of apair of wheels of a slightly larger diameter than pulleys of supportingbelts, mounted between each pair of these pulleys for supporting theabove said bars or strips, and a plurality of guiding arches providedwith line ribbed surface on their outside at the top ofthe unit and ontheir inside at the bottom for engaging the cage wheels correspondinglywide, the Width of said pusher chains, supporting wheels and guidingarches and the number of said bars depending on the load to be carried.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS465,587 Thorp Dec. 22, 1891 1,555,692 Morton n Sept. 29,V 1925 1,698,545Hill 1 Jan. 8, 1929 1,857,431 Clark May 10, 1932 .1,905,229 James et alApr. 25, 1933 1,972,258 Boyle Sept. 4, 1934 2,569,393 Walker Sept. 25,1951 2,773,609 Holappa Dec. 11, 1956

